The “Affordable” Care Act Could Cost UNC System $46 Million Extra

Quick, someone tell HarryReid about this, as well as all the other Democrats who think Ocare only causes flowers to grow in unicorn laden fields. Especially tell NC Senator Kay Hagan, who voted for this abhorrent law

(WRAL) After years of having its budget squeezed by state budget cuts and rising enrollments, the University of North Carolina system now faces a potential $46 million hit from the Affordable Care Act.

Starting next year, large employers must provide insurance for all employees who work more than 30 hours a week. The UNC system has 8,586 visiting professors, graduate assistants and others who meet that threshold but don’t qualify for coverage under the State Health Plan because they are considered non-permanent employees.

Under the Affordable Care Act, the university system would have to provide insurance to all of those workers. The average cost of state health insurance is about $5,400 per year, bringing the total potential cost to $46.4 million.

Where does that money for this “unfunded mandate”, as Charlie Perusse, chief operating officer for the UNC system, called it, come from? Raising tuition? Raising taxes for North Carolina citizens? Bake sales? Turning people into part time employees?

UNC administrators say they might reduce the hours for many of the temporary workers to fewer than 30 per week to dodge the health care law’s coverage requirement.

Could have seen that coming a mile away. They’ll also look to see if they can create more cost effective plans that save about $2k per plan, which would mean a bare bones plan that has minimum coverage under Ocare and surely a high deductible.

Interestingly, you can bet that a good chunk, what has to be a majority, of the teachers and personnel working for the UNC system supported passage of the ACA, along with Obama’s re-election. Hoist. Petard.